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Tuesday 24 May 2005

The World Today is a comprehensive current affairs program which backgrounds, analyses, interprets and encourages debate on events and issues of interest and importance to all Australians. Below is the program summary with links to transcripts and audio (if available).

Whaling creates tension between Australia and Japan

One of Japan's top international negotiators has spoken out this lunch time to accuse the Prime Minister of being ill-informed in his criticism of Japan's whale research program. John Howard has written a strongly worded letter to Japanese Prime Minister Junichiro Koizumi, asking him to rethink Japan's plan to seek permission from the International Whaling Commission to kill an extra 400 whales for scientific research.

Cornelia Rau to pursue compensation

The Federal Government last night released Malaysian born woman, Virginia Leong and her three-year-old daughter Naomi from Sydney's Villawood detention centre. The Labor leader, Kim Beazley, says the Government was embarrassed into its change of heart in the Leong case by pressure from the Malaysian media. Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone isn't commenting on the case, nor will the Minister respond through the media to Australian woman Cornelia Rau's request that she be compensated for her wrongful detention. Ms Rau, whose case sparked the inquiry now underway into the Government's immigration policy, says she should be paid compensation for the 10 months she was wrongly held in immigration detention, a call echoed today by Labor and the Democrats.

Psychiatrists call for end to immigration detention

In Sydney, the Royal Australian and New Zealand College of Psychiatrists is today renewing its call for the Federal Government to end its policy of mandatory detention for asylum seekers. Psychiatrists from across the country have been meeting in Sydney today, and many of them have expressed concern that the very nature of detention is contributing to the mental illnesses suffered by those being held and is causing long-term problems for their children, some of whom like Naomi Leong, have never known life outside detention.

Lawyers negotiate conditions for Vivian Solon's return

Lawyers for the woman wrongly deported to the Philippines four years ago say they're working around the clock to ensure Vivian Solon can return to Australia as soon as possible. But they say they're furious that the Federal Government is not offering to do more to help, saying Immigration Minister Amanda Vanstone's existing offer to Ms Solon does not go far enough.

AFP officer investigated in connection with airport drugs case

An internal federal police investigation is underway today into allegations that an AFP officer was corruptly involved in a major drug trafficking and money laundering case. Earlier this month, more than a dozen people were arrested and charged over a massive cocaine smuggling syndicate, which allegedly involved corrupt baggage handlers at Sydney airport. Now the Federal Police Commissioner, Mick Keelty, has revealed that one of his officers has been referred to the AFP's professional standards unit for investigation over the case.

Hamid Kharzai disappointed in talks with Bush

The President of Afghanistan, Hamid Kharzai, has held talks with US President George W. Bush at the White House about the allegations that US troops tortured and killed Afghan prisoners at a US military base in Afghanistan. Before the meeting, the Afghan leader indicated he wanted to exercise more control over American forces within his country and to have Afghan prisoners being held in the US detention facility at Guantanamo Bay handed over to Afghan authorities. But President Bush has rebuffed these requests.

Michael Jackson won't be called to the stand

In California the trial of singer Michael Jackson appears to be drawing to a close sooner than expected. Mr Jackson's defence team may even wrap up its case as early as tomorrow after making a last minute change to its line-up of witnesses. Michael Jackson has pleaded not guilty to several child molestation charges, and in what's being seen as a blow to the prosecution case, the singer himself now won't be giving evidence.

ALP gains Lees' support on tax package

As Australians wait to see if they'll get their tax cuts from the 1st of July, the Federal Labor Party has received the backing of at least one minor party senator in its plan to vote against the Government's package. Labor has pledged to amend the Coalition's legislation or, if that's not successful, to block it in the Senate.

Bank lending practices under scrutiny

A report by the Australian Prudential Regulation Authority has raised concerns about the lending practices of banks. The APRA report reveals that only half of Australia's banks, building societies and credit unions require a full inspection of a property by a valuer before approving a home loan. And the regulator warns that this leaves even major banks exposed to unacceptably high levels of bad debt.

Young Australians move to an African beat

A dozen young Australians have has just returned from the province of KwaZulu-Natal in South Africa, where they've spent a month writing new music with the Zulu choir, Connections. The trip was organised by the youth group, the Oaktree Foundation, which also runs a number of aid programs in the province. And it's proved to be an inspiring experience for all involved.